SPR-696: Preliminary Study of Climate Adaptation for the Statewide ...

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finally summarized the findings. As discussed in the research approach, the ADOT effortinvolves four main work tasks, as illustrated in Figure 2, culminatingin a set of findings andrecommendations forfurther research or action.Source: Cambridge Systematics, Inc., 2012.Figure 2. ADOT Climate Adaptationn Study Research PlanPRINCIPAL FINDINGSBy initiating this preliminary study of climate adaptationn for the statewide transportation systemin Arizona, there is already an internal interest and momentum at ADOT for climate adaptationplanning. Without institutional support, however, it will be difficult to continue forward withtheresearch agenda in a more extensive study.Starting with the inventory of ADOT’s existing projectss and research on climatechange andenvironmental sustainability, followed by theonline survey and focus group interviews withADOT staff, the study has identified some overarching institutional constraints and impedimentsto implementing climate adaptation planningbeyond the preliminaryassessment. These includethe following: ADOT does not have an overall set of clear, concise goals forr its planning activitiesrelated to climate change, risk assessment, or adaptation. This is a nascent field thatrequires new thinking, new approaches, and interdisciplinarydepartmental support. Thispreliminary assessment helps identifygaps and introduces some areas forfurtherresearch; but without management support, it will be difficultt to implement elementsof aclimate adaptation plan. The proposeddevelopment of a department-wide climateadaptation plan framework would remedy this mpediment. The recent reorganizationn of ADOT managementt may have clarified whowithin thesenior management couldhave responsibility for such an effort; however, it has not beenapparent in the analysis of the ADOTorganizational structurefrom the perspective of the6
staff or the researchers of this assignment. There are a number of champions at the stafflevel for this work, but identifying a group of committed individuals at the managementlevel would be critical in moving this agenda forward.Because climate adaptation itself is interdisciplinary, it requires the technical and socialsupport of a variety of actors within ADOT and external to the agency. The focus groupsidentified numerous activities currently involved with climate adaptation, but there isopportunity to expand the breadth of the interest that overlaps with other activity in theagency related to environmental and sustainability issues. This could be remedied with aseparate ADOT research project inventorying environmental-related activity in theagency, a so-called “environmental audit.”State DOTs are suffering from diminishing funding for operations, preservation, andcapital expansion because of three adverse trends:o Federal and state gas tax rates have been flat or declining since 1996, compared tothe costs of construction and operations, which have been rising much faster thaninflation;o Federal reauthorization for transportation has been stalled, and the proposedMoving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century (MAP-21) legislation will likelymaintain or cut current levels; ando Average asset age of ADOT’s transportation infrastructure is reaching itsthreshold for major maintenance and reconstruction.These trends are likely to exacerbate the present funding scarcity in the coming years with noobvious immediate relief, and thus it is important to seek funding opportunities when they areavailable. This project suggests working with the numerous efforts that are already initiated inADOT, which are related to risk assessment, asset management, evaluation, and response andother adaptation responses to extreme weather events. These efforts are well underway and canbe leveraged by identifying possible funding partners.To move beyond a preliminary assessment of climate adaptation, ADOT will have to find waysto bring its lessons learned to the forefront and into the national spotlight. Because ADOTalready experiences extreme heat and dust storms, it will be the first to develop tools andtechniques that can be applied to other states and regions that will experience climate impactsthat Arizona will face first. If ADOT does not tap into the national dialogue on climateadaptation, it will miss opportunities for peer exchange and potential funding and technicalassistance. An upcoming set of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored pilotprojects can leverage existing staff interest and be an ideal venue to showcase ideas already indevelopment within ADOT.7
Page 1: Preliminary Study ofClimate Adaptat
Page 4 and 5: This report was funded in part thro
Page 7 and 8: CONTENTSEXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........
Page 9 and 10: LIST OF FIGURESFigure 1. ADOT Clima
Page 11 and 12: LIST OF ACRONYMSAASHTO ............
Page 13: ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe authors are espe
Page 16 and 17: key climate-related impacts are pro
Page 18 and 19: transportation system in Arizona, t
Page 23 and 24: CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEWThis re
Page 25 and 26: Source: National Oceanic and Atmosp
Page 27 and 28: DroughtsDiminished water resources
Page 29 and 30: In 2008, the Transportation Researc
Page 31 and 32: Table 2. Projected Climate Impacts
Page 33 and 34: GovernorArizonaDepartmentof Transpo
Page 35 and 36: 21Table 3. Matrix of Climate Impact
Page 37 and 38: Table 3. Matrix of Climate Impacts,
Page 39 and 40: Climate Change Network contains a n
Page 41: states may invite experts from the
Page 44 and 45: The purpose of the focus groups was
Page 47 and 48: CHAPTER 4. DISCUSSION OF FINDINGSBy
Page 49 and 50: TopicCurrent ADOTResources for Clim
Page 51 and 52: Relevance of Climate Change Impacts
Page 53 and 54: 60%50%40%30%20%10%0%a.Short-term (l
Page 55 and 56: There is a “season” for putting
Page 57 and 58: Arizona State Legislature, the Gove
Page 59 and 60: convince the council members and el
Page 61 and 62: might be higher for certain precipi
Page 63: It would be useful to have an inter
Page 66 and 67: When designing new infrastructure,
Page 68 and 69: Metropolitan Transportation Commiss
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REFERENCESArizona Department of Tra
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Robles, M. D. and C. Enquist. 2011.
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University Corporation for Atmosphe
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While complete reports are not yet
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adaptation program development effo
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APPENDIX C. SURVEY RESPONSES BY QUE
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Table 8. Question 2B ResponsesRespo
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Table 9. Question 4B ResponsesRespo
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Relevance of Climate ImpactsPercent
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Table 10. Question 5B Responses (Co
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Table 12. Question 7 Responses (Con
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APPENDIX D. INTERVIEW AND FOCUS GRO
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FOCUS GROUP SIGN-IN SHEETTitleElect
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esponses provided us with valuable
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4. Which departments typically mana
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Finally, if participants think of a
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